The eight visitors from the south were intrigued by the basement.
When the college kids made their way from their various homes down south to Omaha, Nebraska, they were anxious to attend the College World Series and the Olympic Swim Trials, and, of course, to visit their Nebraska friend. Visiting from Louisiana, Texas, and Arkansas, this would be the first trip to the rolling plains of Nebraska for all eight of the visitors.
With only an unfinished basement to offer to some of the crowd, the hosting parent was a little apprehensive about where everyone would sleep. The girls who were visiting would stay in the two upstairs bedrooms that were attached by a Jack and Jill bathroom. The boys, however, would be on air mattresses in the basement and would have use of the guest bathroom upstairs.
The Nebraska college student assured her mother there was nothing to worry about. They were college kids and they could sleep anywhere. She was right.
When everyone finally arrived and every found out where they would be sleeping the talk quickly turned to what the guests thought of their drives and flights into Nebraska. An animated end to the conversation revealed that actually what they were most surprised about was the basement. None of them had basements in their southern homes and only one in the group had ever been in a home basement before.
Home Basement Require Close Attention to Both Radon and Water
Although the basement may have been all fun and games to the Southern visitors, home owners with basements realize that while they can provide awesome additional living space, they also require additional attention to detail. Namely, the detail of radon and water.
Radon is a colorless, odorless, and tasteless gas that is the result of the natural decay of radon. Left unchecked in basements these levels can become dangerous. In fact, in many parts of the country radon tests are required before any house sale can be finalized. When the potentially dangerous gas is detected through radon testing, radon mitigation and abatement services can help the one in 15 U.S. homes that have radon levels at or above the EPA action level.
And while many states like Colorado and Nebraska require radon inspections before retail transfers, many health experts recommend that the these levels should also be a concern long before a house is put on the market. In fact, the U.S. Surgeon General has warned that radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in America today. Preventative research indicates that that lung cancer deaths could be reduced by 2% to 4% by lowering radon levels in homes exceeding the EPA?s action level. These corrections could prevent nearly 5,000 deaths,
Can a Sump Pump Installation Company Help Protect Your Home for Costly Damage?
As the nation continues to deal with unusual weather events like last weekend’s flash flooding in Maryland, many homeowners look for preventative measures that they can take to protect their home investments. A sump pump installation provides homeowners with a level of defense against rising ground water levels as well as a visual and auditory warning when the pump begins working.

A sump pump installation company can help homeowners determine what size a sump pump is needed and where the bet locations would be. Additionally, a sump pump installation company can help make the important decision about whether or not a second sump pump is needed. After all of the money that families spend finishing their basements and expanding their living space, a sump pump installation is a common sense way to help avoid unnecessary damage and loss.
Even though a group of college age sports fans may initially be impressed with even an unfinished basement space, the reality is home maintenance requires close attention to two potential basement problems. Homeowners who live in the South where residential basements are rarely built may not understand the necessity of protecting both life and property from the dangerous effects of water, mold, and radon. These should, however, be essential focuses of homeowners who live in regions where basements are a part of a home. Taking preventative measures like contacting a sump pump installation company and checking radon levels are essential ways to protect both the home and its residents.